South Sudan’s army battles rebels in oil-region town

AFP, JUBA

South Sudan’s army battled rebel forces yesterday in one key town, while troops flushed out insurgents in another after its recapture, as the UN moves to double its peacekeeping force to stave off civil war.

Thousands are believed to have been killed in more than a week of violence, with reports of bodies piled in mass graves amid escalating battles between troops loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and those backing his rival, former South Sudanese vice president Riek Machar.

Government forces celebrated late on Tuesday the recapture of Bor from forces loyal to Machar after the army stormed the strategic town, but battles raged elsewhere including Malakal, capital of the oil-producing Upper Nile state.